‘Little change’ in Zimbabwe since historic election

When Emmerson Mnangagwa pushed long-time friend and fellow revolutionary Robert Mugabe out of the Zimbabwean presidency last year, he promised to deliver far-reaching political and economic reforms to a tired, run-down nation.

Part of that package included a commitment to holding a “free and fair” election.

When Mnangagwa and his fellow Zanu-PF party members swept the contest in July he told supporters “our democracy has indeed come of age”.

“In just nine months we’ve birthed a new Zimbabwe,” the 76-year-old stated at his inauguration ceremony in the 60,000-seat National Stadium in the capital of Harare.

Image:Emmerson Mnangagwa insisted the election was ‘free, fair and transparent’

But critics from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) say very little has changed in Zimbabwe.

International observers also had concerns, with the EU criticising the “unlevel playing field and lack of trust in the process”, and the US highlighting a failure to protect basic human rights.

Image:Queues on polling day in Zimbabwe – the first election since Robert Mugabe was ousted

Sky News discovered evidence of election-related intimidation and harassment when we met opposition members hiding in safe-houses and hostels in the capital.

They told us they had been forced to flee their homes in rural Zimbabwe by members of the ruling party.

Image:Opposition party MDC run safe houses in Harare for victims of political violence

Happyness Mutata, who farms a small plot in a place called Uzumbamarambapfungwa, signed up as an MDC election monitor at the polling station in his local village.

He said he witnessed widespread intimidation by local Zanu-PF leaders on election day and instances of Zanu officials filling out ballot papers for residents who were capable of doing it themselves.

2:37 Video:Nelson Chamisa vows to fight election result

“I saw Zanu provincial members who live in our community, loitering in the queues of people, influencing them to vote for Zanu and promising that if they do not do that they will not stay peaceful in those areas,” he said.

“They were filling out forms for constituents. They were forced to be assisted by Zanu supporters.

“They had no choice.”

Mr Mutata said that later that evening, 20 members of Zanu-PF turned up at his door and threatened to kill him.

Image:Happyness Mutata says he was forced to flee his home by members of the ruling party

“I was very afraid because they had already beaten me [during the election]in 2008,” he said.

“That is why I ran away [for]my life with my family.”

1:07 Video:Opposition supporter’s death threats

Among the hundreds of activists and organisers who have been hiding in Harare is a 52-year-old farmer from eastern Zimbabwe called David Chamanga.

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The allegations of vote-rigging, intimidation and election-related violence matter because Mr Mnangagwa’s ‘reformed’ Zimbabwe has approached the international community for assistance in the form of billions of pounds of loans and financial guarantees.

Countries like the UK – and organisations like the International Monetary Fund – must now decide whether Zimbabwe is a country they want to invest in.